Local Food

TREA members are very much interested in local food and reducing one’s personal footprint.  Over time TREA has facilitated messages to reduce pesticides, support backyard chickens, and helped with a Ministry effort to create the region’s first local farmers’ food map. TREA has led a number of food workshops over the years and shared a member’s 100 mile diet experience. TREA has supported local and organic retailers with their listings in TREA’s Green Directory and helped with past LondonSoup micro funders to support financing of local food projects

The introduction of a food chapter to the new Official Plan (approved 2016), and earlier London Food Charter (2009), which emerged from the community’s shared priorities of eliminating poverty and increasing healthy eating, have increased London’s interest in local food.  As well, London’s Food Policy Council (2016) and London’s Urban Agriculture Strategy (UAS) (2017) promotion of ‘grow local’ has meant more citizens expected to grow gardens.  A City UAS survey under food processing first asked the public to rank three projects. Of these, a food hub was started, community kitchens existed, and a tool lending library concept was of interest to TREA as one wasn’t in place yet.

TREA members have participated on City advisory committees/task forces that involve food issues and policy, promoted local and consumer choices as school programs and delivered an environment/climate change issues 101 with newcomers. As part of its compost demonstration site, TREA planted a pollinator garden in support of the London Pollinator Pathways Project. TREA supports local food surrounding urban agriculture, local gardens and relocalization.

Check out this food map showing where fresh food is grown in London. To add more information contact sassgabor@gmail.com